Easy drinker device



Feb. 23, 1965 M. G. 5. RYAN EASY DRINKER oavxca 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1, 1963 a e L F INVENFOR MAQ\/ C, 5 QyAN ATTORNEY United States Patent f 3,170,665 EASY DRINKER DEVICE Mary G. S. Ryan, 15 Victory Road, Dorchester, Mass. Filed Feb. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 256,222

1 Claim. (Cl. 248-311) I (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952),"sec. 26.6)

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The invention relates generally to improvements in rehabilitation devices for incapacitated patients.

The invention relates more specifically to improvements in rehabilitation devices for patients being incapacitated as to use of their arms and hands for drinking from a receptacle.

, Formerly, such patients depended upon the assistance of an attendant to give them a drink. This new device,

after short use in most cases, enables the patient to be self sustaining as to drinking fluids, relieving the attendant for more urgent hospital duties, giving the patient greater confiidence in his ability to rehabilitate himself.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a rehabilitation device for enabling patients with incapacitated arms and hands to drink fluids without the help of an attendant.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, andthe features of novelty will be pointed out with particularity in the course of the following description and in the appending claims.

FIG. 1 discloses an embodiment of the inventionassembled and secured to a wheel chair as shown;

FIG. 2 discloses a modification of joining the hook members to the Y-member of FIG. 1; and 7 FIG. 3 discloses another modification of joining the hook members to the Y-member of FIG. 1.

In the drawings like reference numerals designate like parts. a

Referring to FIG. 1, the invention consists of an offset swivelled hollow rod support means 1, a Y-shaped rod member 2 having a bearing means 3 or secured in fixed position to the upper end of member 1. The Y-shaped member may be fabricated from stiff wire or tubular stock. The upper portion of Y-member 2 supports, by hooks and 6, a cup or container 4 having'handles 4a and 4b.

The lower end of member 1 is adjustably, 'rotatably and reciprocably received by socket member 7 which is secured by any suitable means such as clamp members 9 and attached to a wheel chair as shown or a table, if

desired. Adjustable screw means 8, or other suitable means, permits member to be properly adjusted for height and in radial position for use by a patient.

The easy drinker devicemay be used during a meal with 'an auxiliary food tray (not shown) or during other desired periods of the day to suit the needs of the patient.

In use a patient sits in the wheel chair or at a table and 3,170,665 Patented Feb. 23, 1965 removing completely members 1, 2, 3, 4, 5' and 6 from the wheel chair or table. One of the points of novelty of the device lies in the unique combined gravity action and reaction of the Y-member 2 in cooperation with hook members 5 and 6 holding container 4 so as to permit a patient to manipulate effectively and efficiently the tilting of floating supported container 4 with his mouth and lips to permit drinking by the patient without the help of an attendant.

Hooks 5b and 6b in FIG. 2 are each rigidly secured to Y-member 2 by passing the threaded portion through bore 14 up to washer 16, which acts as a stop, and tightening the nut 15.

FIG. 3 discloses another means of attaching hook members 5a and 6a to Y-member 2 by means of bolts 11 passing through bores 12 and being received in threaded por- -tion 13. Thus hook members 5a and 6a may be rigidly secured to Y-member 2 in a variety of positions in a hori zontal plane relative to the axis of the prongs of the Y- member 2. 3

It is to be understood, that this invention is not necessarily limited to the components and arrangements described, but that various modifications, changes and subst'itutions may be made therein without departing from the scope and intent of the invention as defined by the specification and claim appended hereto.

I claim:

A device for use to enable an incapacitated person to drink from a container without assistance comprising a tubular support member having a substantially horizontal intermediate offset portion and terminating in a vertical lower end and vertical upper end which provides means to 7 position a container before a patients mouth and freely swing the container away, a lower socket member having clamp members attached thereto and receivingthe vertical lower end of. said support member for rotation therein, a

' Y-shaped memberreceived in said vertical upper end,

member 1 is swung into a desired position and adjusted for height by member 8 so that fluid container 4 is positioned before a patients mouth such that the patient may obtain a drink without the use of his hands or assistance from an attendant. After a meal or other desired period the container 4 may bereleased by member 8 and positioned out of the way of the patient or, if desired, the device may be disassembled by loosening screw means 8 and and plural hook. means for supporting a container connected to each upper portion of said Y-member, adjusting means coacting with said lower end of said tubular supportmember to position a container before a patients mouth enabling him to drink unassisted.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 248,570 10/81 Bulluss 248-141 443,147 12/90 Pederson 248-141 562,428 6/96 Sell 297-194 X 589,806 9/97 Bard 248-158 X 781,684 2/05 Sherwood 248-141 925,853 6/09 Tompkins 248-121 1,570,946 1/26 Cohn 248-158 1,743,831 l/30 Schurr 248-224 1,906,369 5/ 33 Christie 248-227 2,244,995 6/ 41 Klaassen 248-224 X 2,280,476 4/42 Calvert 248- 2,470,524 5/ 49 Scudder 248-227 X 2,789,397 4/57 Tritsch et a1. 47-41 5 2,975,999 3/61 Bunch 248-121 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,523 1884 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. ROY, Primary Examiner. 

